Leadership at Risk: The Perils of Unilateralism

Abstract

“An attention to the judgment of other nations is important to every government for two reasons. The one is that, independently of the merits of any particular plan or measure, it is desirable, on various accounts, that it should appear to other nations as the offspring of a wise and honorable policy. The second is that, in doubtful cases, particularly where the national councils may be warped by some strong passion or momentary interest, the presumed or known opinion of the impartial world may be the best guide that can be followed.”James Madison, The Federalist, No. 63.

New American unilateralism

“…Kao što ćemo primetiti postoje dva nivoa na kojima se govori o američkom unilateralizmu: jedan je nivo opšte teorije i prakse, a drugi je nivo evropskog razumevanja koje smatra da su one akcije koje čitav ostatak sveta s pravom tumači i doživljava kao unilateralne zapravo multilateralne ako Amerika deluje u koordinaciji sa organima EU i ključnim zemljama "stare Evrope". 4 Evropske zemlje su od početka bile veoma nezadovoljne novom republikanskom administracijom. Prema starim predrasudama koje definišu odnose SAD i EU demokrate su po svojoj ideologiji i levoliberalnim shvatanjima daleko bliže evropskom ekonomskom, ideološkom i kulturnom modelu.…”

Understanding the Unilateralist Turn in U.S. Foreign Policy

“…For a review of various ways in which other states have resisted American unilateralism in recent years, seeCarter (2003). On European hostility toward the Bush administration, seeCohen (2001) andGruber (2002).…”